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1999 F2000 Season Kicks-Off at Phoenix this Weekend

25 March 1999

FAIRFIELD, N.J. --The U.S. F2000 National Championship Presented by Speedvision begins its 10th season this weekend at the Phoenix International Raceway one-mile oval, part of the MCI WorldCom 200 Indy Racing League Weekend.

The U.S. F2000s cut-throat competition has put it at the top of motor racing entertainment for North American race fans. The Phoenix weekend will feature a single 50-lap, 50.0-mile sprint race set to take the green flag Sunday, March 28 at 12:00 p.m. (MST). The event will be broadcast on a tape-delayed basis on the Speedvision Network with the initial broadcast set for Monday, April 19 at 9:00 p.m. (EST). With some of the top names from 1998 having moved on to the next levels of racing, including series champion and record-setter David Besnard (KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship), his 1998 teammate Sam Hornish Jr. (KOOL/Toyota Atlantic) and Oval Crown Runner-Up Robby McGehee (Pep Boys Indy Racing League)this seasons battle will feature 1998 Runner-Up Ryan Hampton (No. 88 American Instruments Tatuus Ford), fourth-place finisher Andy Lally (No. 10 Bowman Ford) and Rookie of the Year Marc-Antoine Camirand, of St. Leonard DAston, Quebec, with the No. 96 Key Motorsport Van Diemen Ford. Each driver has his sights set on race wins and the championship, and look to be quick right out of the box.

Other top returnees are T.J. Bell (No. 23 Bell Racing Van Diemen Ford), Minneapolis race winner Jonathan Bottoms (No. 3 Roppe/Team Great Northern Van Diemen Ford), Larry Foyt (No. 14 Terre Haute First National Bank/Z Water Works Tatuus Ford), Alejandro Garcia (Indigo Racing/Dixie Numerics Van Diemen Ford), Aaron Justus (No. 24 Torco Racing Lubricants Van Diemen Ford), Larry Oberto (No. 66 Oberto Beef Jerky/Lowreys Big Beef Van Diemen Ford), 1998 Oval Crown Rookie of the Year Bobby Oergel (No. 19 DSTP Motorsports Mygale Ford), Rolando Quintanilla (No. 40 Transportes Quintanilla Van Diemen Ford) and Steve Rikert (No. 4 Richard Morgan Racing Van Diemen Ford).

This years rookie crop is as strong as ever, led by 1998 Formula Ford World Finals Runner-Up Dan Wheldon, of England, (No. 7 Primus Racing Van Diemen Ford) and second generation driver Mark E. Dismore (No. 5 Monster.com Van Diemen Ford). The two are joined at defending champion Primus Racing by Costa Rican Daniel Muniz (No. 13 Visa Aval Van Diemen Ford). Other top Van Diemen-running rookies include Arnold Brinkmann (No. 35 Fruit Ecuador), Rafael Ferrer (No. 11 Amores Motorsports) and Harold Primat (No. 77 Primland Resort).

Mygale has its own ace rookie set to make an immediate impact with Ian Lacy (No. 33 DSTP Motorsports), who won the STAR Mazda Championship in 1998. Carbir prepares for its first full season as a manufacturer with a two-car effort for former ACRL Champion Jeff Glenn (No. 72 Bank of the West) and Galen Puccini (No. 72 RESET).

Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.